Srinagar put under unofficial curfew

Pro-independence leaders called for a strike against national elections and rejected all previous elections in the disputed region as an exercise by the Indian government to widen its control over the restive area

SRINAGAR: Shops, businesses and government offices remained closed in the occupied Valley on Wednesday as Kashmiri leaders called for a strike against national elections.

Indian troops flooded the streets in a show of strength in the main city of the Himalayan region.

Thousands of Indian forces in riot gear patrolled the streets of Srinagar and erected steel barricades and razor wire across roads to stop protesters from demonstrating against Thursday's vote, said senior police official B. Srinivas.

India's national elections are being held over a month in five phases, ending on May 14.

'We've imposed restrictions on civilian movement to maintain law and order,' police officer Pervez Ahmed said as policemen stopped residents leaving their homes.

Police also placed Kashmiri leaders under house arrest, including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

Geelani, a key Kashmiri leader, called for the two-day strike against the election, which he has denounced as 'farcical.'

The boycott call has been backed by a stark warning from the most powerful militant group active in occupied Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen, which has said anyone who casts a ballot will be considered a 'traitor.'

Pro-independence leaders have rejected all previous elections in the disputed region as an exercise by the Indian government to widen its control over the restive area.

Protesters torched a vehicle and clashed with government forces across Srinagar on Tuesday night. At least 13 people were injured, said a police official.-Agencies